Young imaginations were set racing when an award-winning children’s author swapped the page for the classroom, encouraging pupils to become storytellers themselves.
Year 6 pupils at Drake Primary Academy, part of the Reach South Academy Trust, welcomed author and comedian Helen Rutter for a day of creativity and storytelling.
Helen is best known for her debut novel The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh, which was named Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. She has also been nominated for the Carnegie Medal, shortlisted for the Costa, Blue Peter and Branford Boase awards, and won the Teach Primary Book Award.
During her visit, pupils learned about Helen’s journey to becoming an author and where she finds inspiration for her stories. They then planned their own adventure stories, creating imaginative characters and unusual twists.
Reading plays a central role at Drake Primary Academy, where pupils take part in daily story times, guided reading sessions and activities designed to build confidence and introduce them to new authors. From phonics in the early years to class novels and Reading Masters lessons, children are encouraged to develop a lasting love of books.
Jacqueline Stephens, executive headteacher at Drake Primary Academy, said: “We are so grateful to Helen Rutter for visiting our school.
“It was wonderful to see the children inspired by her journey as an author and eager to start creating their own stories.
“Experiences like this make reading and writing come alive for our pupils.”
